Article content
The event was remarkable even if few noticed a bill from the Progressive Conservative Party to update Ontario’s labour laws not only passed this week, it did so with strong support from the province’s trade unions.
Bill 288, the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, which replaces the Ontario College of Trades, is set to simplify the apprenticeship process and reduce the bureaucratic burden for unions and businesses in the skilled trades.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or LILLEY: Ford Tories get labour peace one year out from election Back to video
Legislation passed Wednesday is “bringing the skilled trades into the 21st century,” Ontario’s minister of labour, training and skills development says.
Article content
Labour Minister Monte McNaughton introduced legislation Thursday to create a new crown agency to replace the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT).
Skilled Trades Ontario will provide a one-window digital portal into the trades where clients can register, track their progress, schedule training and exams, access information about financial supports and verify results, the minister said.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or Ontario replaces skilled trades body Back to video
The introduction of OCOT and its complicated relationship with the Ministry of Labour saw a 17,000-person decline in the number of apprentices, he said.